Threats and attacks levelled against members of democratic trade unions: Members of the ITUC-affiliated organisations continued to face relentless threats and a number of attacks at the hands of members of the Maoist trade union ANFTU (All Nepal Federation of Trade Unions) or the Young Communist League, a branch of the Maoist party. The leaders of the ANFTU union centre recognised they have some difficulty controlling their members on the ground, but have expressed their will to evolve toward a peaceful trade union movement.
The General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) reported, for example, that during the second week of April, Singh Lama, president of its affiliate in the textile sector, was attacked by Maoist trade unionists over his union’s refusal to take part in a Maoist party activity. On 21 April, members of the Maoist union vandalised the office of the NICIWU (Nepal Independent Chemical Iron Workers’ Union) affiliated to GEFONT. On 6 May, during the general strike
strike
The most common form of industrial action, a strike is a concerted stoppage of work by employees for a limited period of time. Can assume a wide variety of forms.
See general strike, intermittent strike, rotating strike, sit-down strike, sympathy strike, wildcat strike
, armed Maoists stormed the Gorkha district office of another GEFONT affiliate, the ITWA (Independent Transport Workers’ Association), leaving behind a trail of damage. In November, two GEFONT members were dismissed by the management at the Hyatt Kathmandu hotel under pressure from the Maoist union following their refusal to join their organisation. GEFONT took this case to court and secured the reinstatement of its members in December.
The NTUC-I (Nepal Trade Union Congress - Independent) also reported several cases of violence and intimidation by Maoists. The president of its union at the Hyatt Kathmandu hotel, Rajendra Khadga, was forced to become a member of the Maoist union or lose his job. Bipin Sahi, president of the NTUC-I affiliated union at the Radisson hotel in Kathmandu suffered the same fate. Ram Bahu Sah, a member of the NTUC-I at the Triveni Simpex factory in Birgunj was also threatened by Maoist trade unionists when formulating demands on behalf of the workers. The NTUC-I also reported an attack by Maoist trade unionists against several of its members who were taking part, on 10 October, in a trade union activity held by its affiliate, NTHCRWU (Nepal Tourism, Hotel, Casino and Restaurant Workers’ Union), at the Himalaya hotel in Lalitpur. Several trade union leaders had to be hospitalised following this assault. A social event held by the union affiliated to the NTUC-I at the Yak and Yeti hotel in Kathmandu was disrupted by members of the Maoist trade union movement.
Courts order reinstatement of unionists: Legal battles occasionally succeed in combating the anti-union practices deployed by employers. In July, for example, the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT), secured the reinstatement of 13 of its members who had been fired by the Self-Help Development Bank in 2001, shortly before they registered their union. They were reinstated in line with a Supreme Court ruling. In October, GEFONT also obtained a court ruling ordering the reinstatement, with
back pay
back pay
Wages or benefits due an employee for past employment. Often awarded when the employee has been unfairly dismissed. Not to be confused with retroactive pay (delayed payment for work previously done at a lower wage rate).
, of Bhim Bahadur, who had been dismissed on false grounds from a women’s centre in Lalitpur. GEFONT is convinced that the real grounds for his dismissal was his union involvement.
